Mountains in Algeria | By Algeria Channel City finder Climb or Hike the Majestic Mountains of Algeria From the Mediterranean coast the landscape peaks in the Atlas Mountains before it stretches across the Sahara Desert . With such varied topography, Algeria's landscape is diverse and fascinating. Algeria's mountain ranges cover large portions of the land. Some of Algeria's mountains form part of the great Atlas Mountain Range whilst others are located only within the country's borders. The Atlas Mountains The Atlas Mountain Range extends some 2400km/1500 miles across Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. It creates a border between the Mediterranean and the Sahara desert and is home to remote Arab villages in Algeria. This impressive mountain range is made up of the following sections: Middle Atlas, Anti-Atlas, High Atlas, Tell Atlas and Saharan Atlas . The latter two ranges are located in Algeria. The Saharan Atlas This Algerian Mountain Range makes up the eastern section of the Atlas Mountains. Djebel Aissa is the tallest peak in the Saharan Atlas, reaching 2236 meters in height. Smaller ranges that make up the Saharan Atlas include Ouled-Nael, Amour and Ksour.

The Saharan Atlas later meets up with the Tell Atlas, forming the T'bessa and Medjerda ranges. Wadis, such as the Touil, run down from the Saharan Atlas. Wadis are riverbeds that only flow in wet seasons. Chaoui Berbers are the chief residents of this mountain range and they live mainly where the landscape makes agriculture possible. The Tell Atlas Measuring some 1500km in length, the Tell Atlas Mountain Range makes its way through Morocco, across Algeria and into Tunisia. The Tell Atlas runs parallel to the Saharan Atlas until it meets in the eastern side of Algeria. Many of Algeria's important cities are located along the Tell Atlas; this includes the capital of Algiers and Oran . The Chelif River runs from the Tell Atlas into the Mediterranean Sea and provides Algeria's inhabitants with a fertile agricultural valley. The Aures Mountains This range forms and extension of the Atlas Mountains. It is located in eastern Algeria just to the east of Algeria's Saharan Atlas. Djebel Chelia, also known as Kaltum, is the tallest peak in this range and reaches a height of 2328 m.

The Aur's Mountains are very isolated and remain the home of the Shawia people. The Ahaggar Mountains (aka Hoggar) Located in the south of Algeria, the Hoggar is a highland area of the central parts of the Sahara. The geography of the region consists mostly of rocky desert. Mount Tahat is the tallest peak of the area, reaching 2918m in height. A common attraction to these Algerian mountains is Assekrem, the place where Le Pere de Foulcault resided in 1905. Due to its less extreme climate, the Hoggar is a region of great biodiversity. The Ahaggar Mountains are the abode of the Imuhagh, who are part of the Tuareg. Nearby is the tomb of Tin Hinan, ancestor and matriarch of the Tuareg people. The Ahaggar region is very popular amongst tourists, with many tour operators visiting the area. The Tassili n' Ajjer Lying in the southeast of Algeria, this Saharan mountain range stretches some 500km. The highest point in the Tassili n'Ajjer range is Adrar Afao at 2158 meters.

As the mountains are chiefly composed of sandstone, many awe-inspiring natural rock arches have formed. Vegetation in the range is mostly scattered woodland. The range is also popular with tourists because of its archeological interest, which includes the brilliant examples of ancient rock art that are found here. Large portions of the range are protected as part of the Tassili n'Ajjer National park . Other Mountains and Ranges Jebel Chenoua, to the west of Algiers, is a mountain group on the coast. Located between Tipaza and Cherchell, Jebel Cheoua is home to Berber speakers. The Gueltara Mountains are in the west of Algeria. The highest point in this small range is 755m high. Tags: User Comments & Reviews: 9 Comment(s) To leave a comment, please sign in using the login box on the right or click here , or sign up here . Page 1 of 2 Read More We have our own operation based in Marrakech with wonderful guides and staff who enjoy showing you their country.

Our climbs of Mount Toubkal are safe and properly managed, and we can offer either camping trips or accommodation in simple mountain lodges or the more luxury kasbahs. Transport into the Moroccan Atlas can be by car or helicopter, buy beyond the town of Imlil you are on foot supported by mules to carry the luggage and Berber guides. It's a simple way of life, experiencing the beauty and solitude of the mountains and with the added challenge of reaching the summit of Mount Toubkal, which is the highest peak in north Africa. The Atlas mountain range is special in that it is a natural barrier between the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines and a buffer to the Sahara Desert. The mountains extend almost 2400 kilometres through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. To visit here is to experience a particular climate and culture that has been built on a way of life that began in the oases of the great desert. The architecture of the mosques and the kasbahs is perfectly in tune with the environment, an exotic escape just a few hours from northern Europe.

Site Links Meseta Mountains - definition of Meseta Mountains by The Free Dictionary Meseta Mountains - definition of Meseta Mountains by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Atlas Mountains A system of ranges and plateaus of northwest Africa extending from southwest Morocco to northern Tunisia between the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea and rising to 4,167 m (13,671 ft). Atlas Mountains pl n (Placename) a mountain system of N Africa, between the Mediterranean and the Sahara. Highest peak: Mount Toubkal, 4165 m (13 664 ft) At′las Moun′tains n.pl. a mountain range in NW Africa, extending through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Highest peak, Mt. Tizi, 14,764 ft. (4500 m). ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1.

Atlas Mountains - a mountain range in northern Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert; extends from southwestern Morocco to northern Tunisia Algeria , Algerie , Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria - a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim; colonized by France in the 19th century but gained autonomy in the early 1960s Al-Magrib , Kingdom of Morocco , Maroc , Marruecos , Morocco - a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956 Republic of Tunisia , Tunisia - a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean coast; achieved independence from France in 1956; "southern Tunisia is mostly desert" Translations High Atlas mountain range photo gallery - 22 pictures. Morocco Licensing Lightbox About Contact Southwest of Marrakech lies the Atlas mountain range, which extends 2,400 km through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia and separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic part of Morrocco from the desertic southwest. The highest peak of the Atlas is the Jebel Toubkal (4167 m).

The road connecting Marrakech with Ouarzatate crosses the Atlas mountain range and its highest point is the Tichka pass at 2260m. Atlas Mountains Interpretation Translation Atlas Mountains a mountain range in NW Africa, extending through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Highest peak, Mt. Tizi, 14,764 ft. (4500 m). * * * Mountain system, northwestern Africa. It extends some 1,200 mi (2,000 km) from the Moroccan port of Agadir in the southwest to the Tunisian capital of Tunis in the northeast. It comprises several ranges, rising to various elevations, including the High Atlas in Morocco; the Tell, or Maritime, Atlas, which runs along the coast from Morocco to Tunisia; and the Saharan Atlas in Algeria, located farther inland and running adjacent to the Sahara . Among these ranges are situated numerous plateaus and plains that support diverse ecologies. The system's highest peak is Morocco's Mount Toubkal, elevation 13,665 ft (4,165 m).

* * * ▪ mountains, Africa Introduction series of mountain ranges in northwestern Africa , running generally southwest to northeast to form the geologic backbone of the countries of the Maghrib (the western region of the Arab world)—Morocco, Algeria , and Tunisia . They extend for more than 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometres), from the Moroccan port of Agadir in the southwest, to the Tunisian capital of Tunis in the northeast. Their thick rim rises to form a high sill separating the Mediterranean basin to the north from the Sahara to the south, thus constituting a barrier that hinders, without completely preventing, communication between the two regions. Across the mountains filter both air masses and human migrations. It is, however, only in the east–west direction that the Atlas Mountains facilitate movement. These are the conditions that create at the same time both the individuality and the homogeneity of the Atlas countries. Although the Saharan region is more likely to be described as the archetypal North African habitat, it is the well-watered mountains north of this vast desert that provide the foundation for the livelihood of most of the peoples of North Africa and a striking green or white background for many North African towns.

Physical features Physiography The Atlas mountain system takes the shape of an extended oblong, enclosing within its ranges a vast complex of plains and plateaus. The northern section is formed by the Tell Atlas , which receives enough rainfall to bear fine forests. From west to east several massifs (mountainous masses) occur. The first of these is Er- Rif , which forms a half-moon-shaped arc in Morocco between Ceuta and Melilla; its crest line exceeds 5,000 feet (1,500 metres) above sea level at several points, reaching 8,058 feet at Mount Tidirhine. East of the gap formed by the Moulouya River the Algerian ranges begin, among which the rugged bastion of the Ouarsenis Massif (which reaches a height of 6,512 feet), the Great Kabylie, which reaches 7,572 feet at the peak of Lalla Khedidja, and the mountains of Kroumirie in Tunisia are all prominent. The southern section, which is subject to desert influences, is appropriately called the Saharan Atlas .

It includes in the centre a palisade formed by shorter ranges, such as the Ksour and Ouled-Naïl mountains, grouped into massifs between two mighty ranges—the Moroccan High Atlas to the west and the Aurès Mountains to the east. The High Atlas culminates in Mount Toubkal ( Toubkal, Mount ) at 13,665 feet (4,165 metres), the highest point in the Atlas Mountains, which is surrounded by high snowcapped peaks; the Aurès Mountains are formed of long parallel folds, which reach a height of 7,638 feet at Mount Chelia. The Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas merge in the west into the long folds of the Middle Atlas and in the east join together in the Tébessa and Medjerda mountains. Geology If the relief of the Atlas region is relatively simple, its geology is complex. In essence, the two Atlases comprise two different structural regions. The Tell Atlas originally arose out of a basin filled with sediment, which was dominated to the north by a marginal rim, of which the massifs of Tizi Ouzou, Collo, and Edough are the remnants.

Its elevation took place during a lengthy mountain-building process that was marked by upheavals in the Tertiary Period (which began 66.4 million years ago and ended 1.6 million years ago); over the cluster of folds that were uplifted from the rift valley were spread sheets of flysch (deposits of sandstones and clays), which were carried down from the north over the top of the marginal rim. Thus the Tell Atlas represents an example of a young folded mountain range still in the process of formation, as is shown by the earth tremors to which it is subject. To the south the Saharan Atlas belongs to another structural grouping, that of the vast plateaus of the African continent, which form part of the ancient base rock largely covered by sediments deposited by shallow seas and by alluvial deposits.

The Saharan Atlas is the result either of the mighty folding of the substructure that raised up fragments of the base rock—such as the horst (uplifted block of the Earth's crust), which constitutes the Moroccan High Atlas—or else of the crumpling into folds of the Earth's crust during the Jurassic Period (208 to 144 million years ago) and the Cretaceous Period (144 to 66.4 million years ago). Drainage The seasonal character of the rains, which fall in torrents, determines the characteristics of drainage in the Atlas: the runoff feeds streams that are of great erosive capacity and that have cut their way down through the thickness of accumulated layers of sediment to form deep narrow gorges difficult to cross. The pre-Roman fortress of Cirta (now called Constantine) in Algeria stands on a rock sculptured out by one such stream, the winding Rhumel River. The great Maghribian wadis ( French : oueds; channels of watercourses that are dry except during periods of rain) issue from the Atlas ranges.

Among the more perennial rivers are the Moulouya ( Moulouya River ), which rises from the Middle Atlas, and the Chelif ( Chelif River ), which rises from the Amour Mountains. Destructive of the soils of their headstreams, they deposit their loads of silt at the foot of the mountain ranges or else leave a long line of conical deposits locally known as dirs (“hills”). Soils Good soil is sparse at higher altitudes in the Atlas region. Most often nothing is to be found but bare rock, debris, and fallen materials incessantly renewed by landslides. Two materials predominate—limestone, which forms ledges that are half-buried in rough debris, and marls (chalky clays) cut by erosion into a maze of ravines and crumbling gullies. The rarer sandstones favour forest growth. The best soils are the alluvia found on the terraced slopes and on the valley bottoms. Climate The Atlas Mountains are the meeting place of two different kinds of air masses—the humid and cold polar air masses that come from the north and the hot and dry tropical air masses that move up from the south.

To the influences of altitude and latitude must be added that of aspect or exposure. Rain is more plentiful in the Tell Atlas than in the Saharan Atlas, and more so to the northeast than to the southwest: the highest rainfall is recorded east of the Tell Atlas. ʿAyn ad-Darāhim in the Kroumirie mountains receives 60 inches (1,524 millimetres) a year; nowhere in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, south of the High Atlas, is the total more than 17 inches a year. In a single massif the slopes with a northern exposure receive more rainfall than those with a southern exposure. With increased altitude the temperature drops rapidly; despite the proximity of the sea, the coastal massifs are cold regions. At 6,575 feet the summits of Mount Babor in the Little Kabylie region are covered with snow for four or five months, while the Moroccan High Atlas retains its snows until the height of summer. Winter in the Atlas is hard, imposing severe conditions upon the inhabitants.

Plant and animal life Erosion of the soils in the Atlas region is aggravated by the sparseness of the vegetation covering the landscape; only about 39,000 square miles (101,000 square kilometres) of land are forested. On Er-Rif and the Kabylie and Kroumirie ranges, which experience some rainfall, moist forests of cork oaks cover an undergrowth of arbutus (cane apple) and heather shrub, and carpets of rockroses and lavender are found. When the total annual rainfall is less than about 30 inches and limestone is present, green oak and arborvitae (a species of pine tree) cover the soil, forming light, dry forests with a thin and bushy undergrowth. Stands of cedar predominate at higher altitudes. On the dry summits of the Saharan Atlas the vegetation is reduced to scattered stands of green oak and juniper trees. The clearance of land for agriculture has reduced the forest cover in the Atlas ranges; animal life in the mountains is also in retreat.

There remain only a few jackals, some tribes of monkeys (Barbary apes) at higher elevations, and occasional herds of wild boars in the oak woods. The people The mountains, with their inhospitable environment, have provided a refuge for the original inhabitants, who have fled successive invasions. Here the Berber people have survived, preserving their own languages, traditions, and beliefs, while at the same time accepting Islām to some extent. Village communities still live according to a code of customary law, known as kanun , which deals with all questions of property and persons. The family unit traces its descent from a single ancestor, preserving its cohesion by the sense of solidarity that unites its members; an injury to the honour of one affects the group as a whole and demands vengeance. The concern of Berber society to preserve its individuality is evident in the choice of habitat. Villages, which are fortified, are generally perched high up on mountain crests. Small in size, such villages are composed of the dwellings, a mosque, a threshing floor, and a place for the assembly of the elders ( jam āʿah, or djemaa), which governs the affairs of each community.

Families live, each unit apart, in separate rooms that form a square around a closed interior courtyard. Despite the fundamental homogeneity of Berber society, there is a considerable diversity in different mountain localities. The Shluh of the High Atlas in Morocco inhabit the river valleys that cut down deeply into the massif. Their villages, with populations of several hundred inhabitants in each, are often located at an altitude of more than 6,500 feet. They consist of terraced houses, crowded one against the other, that are often dominated by a communal fortified threshing floor, or else are grouped around the threshing floor-plus-dwelling of the most powerful family. The mountain slopes in the vicinity are divided up for pasturage and cultivation. In some fields dry (i.e., nonirrigated) farming is practiced for growing cereals. Land that is irrigated by diverting water from wadis yields two crops a year—cereals in winter and vegetables in summer. The Shluh use manure from their cattle as fertilizer. Oxen and goats penned together on the ground floor of dwellings graze on stubble and on fallow lands around the villages.

Sheepherders follow a pattern of transhumance (seasonal migration), grazing their sheep on low-lying land in winter and on the uplands in summer. During the period of the French protectorate in Morocco (1912–56), profound changes occurred, transforming the way of life of the Middle Atlas populations. The dominant pattern of transhumance gave way to the practice of sedentary agriculture. The winter descent to the plains (azarhar) pasture has become practically a thing of the past, since the land is now under cultivation. The ascent to high pastures in summer, however, still continues. Stock raising in one location is increasingly practiced. Commercial forest products, mainly cork, also bring in an appreciable income. Where the mountain and the plain meet, the dir lands offer rich potentialities, thanks to a light soil and abundant water. Grouped together in large villages, the diara populations (i.e., populations who live on the slope of the dirs) constitute prosperous agricultural communities. The Rif of Morocco and the Kabyle of Algeria resemble each other in many ways.

Both Berber tribes, they inhabit the same types of wet-mountain slopes covered with oak forests, are similarly attached to a barren soil, and are both inclined to isolationism. In contrast to the way of life of the Berbers of the High and Middle Atlas, stock raising plays only a secondary role in their village life; they are not so much agriculturalists as arboriculturists, although they grow a little sorgo (a sorghum used for fodder), and women grow vegetables in small gardens adjoining their houses. It is, however, the fig and olive trees covering the mountain slopes they inhabit that constitute their principal resources. The Kabyle are also skilled craftsmen, working with wood, silver, and wool. In the past they were also peddlers, selling carpets and jewelry to the people of the plains. The Aurès Mountains, standing alone in northeastern Algeria, are perhaps the least developed mountain region in the Maghrib. The Shawia (Chaouïa) populations who inhabit them follow a seminomadic style of life, which is partly agricultural and partly pastoral.

They live in terraced stone villages in which the houses are built in tiers, one above the other, the whole being dominated by a guelaa, or fortified granary. When winter comes, the inhabitants of the high valleys lead their flocks to the lowlands surrounding the massif, where they pitch tents or live in caves. Returning to the uplands in summer, they irrigate the land to grow sorghum and vegetables and maintain apricot and apple orchards, while shepherds take the sheep to pastures on the hilltops. Despite precarious living conditions, the Atlas Mountains are densely populated—overpopulated even, in certain localities. In the area around Tizi Ouzou in the Great Kabylie, for example, densities reach about 700 persons per square mile (270 per square kilometre). Emigration is a necessity: the mountain regions have become a human reservoir upon which the Maghribian countries draw to obtain the labour force needed for development. Commercial agriculture attracts large numbers of farm workers to the plains either on a seasonal or a permanent basis. The Mitidja Plain of Algeria, for example, has been settled by the Kabyle.

In Morocco, the Shluh of the High Atlas have provided labour for the phosphate mines. Urban growth has served to increase the volume of the migratory stream that flows down from the mountains; the cities of Algiers, Constantine, Oran, and Casablanca are to a great extent peopled by mountain folk. The shantytowns of Algiers contain numerous Kabyle, and those of Casablanca many Shluh. Many of these urban immigrants find employment as labourers, while others become shopkeepers. In Algeria the insecurity that became general in most mountain districts during the nationalist uprising that preceded independence led to the departure of large numbers of people. The exodus from the mountains continued after independence, with many mountain dwellers moving into the plains to occupy houses abandoned by departing Europeans. Rural and urban activities, however, still did not provide employment for all, for many emigrants, mostly from Algeria, sought work in France. To a considerable extent the mountain populations subsist on money sent back by these migratory workers. The economy Resources Despite their inhospitability and relative inaccessibility, the Atlas Mountains have played an important part in the modern development of the Maghribian countries.

The mountain massifs constitute catchment areas with considerable potential. The construction of reservoir dams not only has permitted the storage of enormous amounts of water for irrigating the plains but has also made it possible to generate hydroelectric energy. In Morocco efforts have been made in the last half of the 20th century to exploit the potential of the mountain wadis. In addition to the dams across the Wadi el-Abid and the Wadi el-Rhira on the northern slope of the High Atlas, dams on the southern face have been constructed across the Drâa ( Drâa River ) and Ziz watercourses. In Algeria the Kabylie region has been developed with hydroelectric stations on the Agrioun and Djendjene wadis. The geologic formations of the Atlas are rich in minerals. The Moroccan High Atlas in particular contains important deposits. Among these the most important economically is phosphate, mined principally in the Khouribga area. Other major deposits include lead and zinc from the Middle Atlas and from the Oujda area and copper, silver, and manganese; the output of manganese mining at Imini and Tiounine is transported to Marrakech by overhead cable cars.

Anthracite coal is also mined at Oujda. In Algeria iron ore is extracted from the Seba Chioukh Mountains, from Mount Zaccar Rherbi, and from the areas near Ouenza and Bou Khadra, while phosphate is mined at Mount Onk and El Kouif. Lead and zinc also have become important. In Tunisia the High Tell mountains produce phosphate at Al-Qalʿah al-Jardāʾ, iron ore from Mount Djerissa, and lead from Sāqiyat Sīdī Yūsuf. These raw materials are often processed in the coastal towns. The iron ore from Ouenza, for example, supplies the iron-smelting industry of Annaba. Among forest products, cork is more important than timber; production is centred in the Kabylia region of Algeria, notably on the Collo Massif. The tourist industry also is being developed, particularly in the High Atlas region of Morocco. In the Middle Atlas, long snow-covered slopes suitable for winter sports are located near major towns. In Algeria the establishment of industry in mountain regions is encouraged, to provide employment for the mountain dwellers.

At Constantine , the principal city of the mountain regions, as well as at other large cities, a number of industries have been established. Despite these efforts, however, contrasts between the life-styles in the mountains and those in the plains and cities of the Maghrib have by no means diminished, nor are they likely to do so soon. Transportation The Atlas Mountains have their own internal system of communications. Villages are linked by paths that, avoiding the valley bottoms, follow the crest lines of the hills. Travel is on foot or by mule or local bus. The massifs constitute an obstacle to traffic; roads and railroads traverse them by means of tunnels and viaducts, which are costly to build. Traffic between Algiers and Constantine, for example, is obliged to cross the Kabylie Massif; the route runs through the Isser River gorges and crosses the mountains at the Portes de Fer Pass. The Chiffa Gorge cuts across the route between Blida and Médéa. The relative impenetrability of the mountains explains why they have been avoided by the main transportation routes and why, consequently, they constitute strongholds of ancient traditionalism.

Obstacles to communication should not, however, be exaggerated; the mountains also offer many natural connecting links, or passes, that facilitate movement. Such topographical accidents localize communication routes: between the desert and the plains, the nomads use synclinal corridors (i.e., corridors formed by folds in the rocks in which the strata dip inward from both sides toward the centre) that separate the ridges of the Saharan Atlas range. The Biskra Gap, situated between the Ouled-Naïl and Aurès ranges, provides a natural conduit for traffic between Constantine on the Rhumel River and Touggourt in the Sahara. Between Algeria and Morocco both the road and the railroad pass through the Atlas along the Taza Pass, which breaks the continuity of the mountain system between Er-Rif and the Middle Atlas. Passes are natural routes across the mountain barriers and thus constitute strategic points. The focal point of communication in the Great Kabylie, for example, is Tizi Ouzou, at the Genêt Pass, which has become in effect the capital of the massif.

To surmount the obstacle formed by the Ouarsenis Massif, situated between Chelif Plain and the Sersou Plateau, it is necessary to pass by way of Theniet al-Haad. The passes of the Moroccan High Atlas also have played a decisive role in the history of relations between Morocco and the vast region known as the western Sudan to the south; the ancient caravan route from Marrakech to the Drâa valley used the n'Test Pass, which thus became of great commercial importance. Study and exploration Attempts by European powers to gain control of northwestern Africa began in the 15th century. Portuguese activity was confined to the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic coast of Morocco, where several forts were established. Spanish activity, initiated at the beginning of the 16th century, included the capture of Mediterranean ports and a slow penetration first of the Rif region and after 1860 into other parts of Morocco. French influence was more extensive. Beginning in 1830 with the capture of Algiers, French control expanded eventually to encompass all but the Rifian part of the Atlas region, including a protectorate over most of Morocco (1912–56).

Road building to control the mountains and to facilitate the movement of peoples and goods enhanced communication in what had been an isolated and fragmented region, often weakly controlled by government authorities based in lowland areas. No longer the focus of European exploration or exploitation, the Atlas Mountains are a conspicuous feature of the independent states of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Hildebert İsnard Marvin W. Mikesell Additional Reading The best general treatment of the physical and human geography of the Atlas Mountains is Jean Despois and René Raynal, Géographie de l'Afrique du nord-ouest (1967, reissued 1975). A good overview of the region is also offered by J.M. Houston, The Western Mediterranean World: An Introduction to Its Regional Landscapes (1964). Information on livelihood and environmental modifications in the Rif Mountains appears in a short work by Marvin W. Mikesell, Northern Morocco: A Cultural Geography (1961, reprinted 1985).

The best one-volume survey of the culture of the peoples of the Atlas region is Ernest Gellner and Charles Micaud (eds.), Arabs and Berbers: From Tribe to Nation in North Africa (1972). Marvin W. Mikesell * * * Atlas Mountains - definition of Atlas Mountains by The Free Dictionary Atlas Mountains - definition of Atlas Mountains by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Atlas Mountains A system of ranges and plateaus of northwest Africa extending from southwest Morocco to northern Tunisia between the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea and rising to 4,167 m (13,671 ft). Atlas Mountains pl n (Placename) a mountain system of N Africa, between the Mediterranean and the Sahara. Highest peak: Mount Toubkal, 4165 m (13 664 ft) At′las Moun′tains n.pl. a mountain range in NW Africa, extending through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Highest peak, Mt. Tizi, 14,764 ft. (4500 m). ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1.

Atlas Mountains - a mountain range in northern Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert; extends from southwestern Morocco to northern Tunisia Algeria , Algerie , Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria - a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim; colonized by France in the 19th century but gained autonomy in the early 1960s Al-Magrib , Kingdom of Morocco , Maroc , Marruecos , Morocco - a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956 Republic of Tunisia , Tunisia - a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean coast; achieved independence from France in 1956; "southern Tunisia is mostly desert" Translations Meseta Mountains | Article about Meseta Mountains by The Free Dictionary Meseta Mountains | Article about Meseta Mountains by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia .

Atlas Mountains, system of ranges and plateaus in NW Africa, extending c.1,500 mi (2,410 km) from SW Morocco, through N Algeria, to N Tunisia; Jebel Toubkal (13,671 ft/4,167 m), in SW Morocco, is the highest peak. The Atlas Mts., predominantly folded mountains of sedimentary rock, were uplifted during the late Jurassic period. Geologically related to the Alpine system of Europe, they are separated from the Sierra Nevada Sierra Nevada , chief mountain range of S Spain, in Granada prov., running from east to west for c.60 mi (100 km), parallel to the Mediterranean Sea. The range's highest peak is Mulhacén (11,411 ft/3,478 m). ..... Click the link for more information. of Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar and from Sicily and the Apennines Apennines , Ital. Appennino, mountain system, running the entire length of the Italian peninsula.

It extends south c.840 mi (1,350 km) from the Cadibona Pass in Liguria, NW Italy, where the Apennines join with the Ligurian Alps, to the Strait of Messina; the mountains of ..... Click the link for more information. of Italy by the Mediterranean Sea; the Canary Islands Canary Islands, Span. Islas Canarias, group of seven islands (1990 pop. 1,589,403), 2,808 sq mi (7,273 sq km), autonomous region of Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off Western Sahara. They constitute two provinces of Spain. Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1990 pop. ..... Click the link for more information. are a westward extension. The Atlas system is most rugged in Morocco, where, from north to south, the Rif (or Rif Atlas), Middle Atlas, High or Grand Atlas (the highest part of the system), and Anti-Atlas are found; fertile lowlands separate the ranges. In Algeria the system becomes a series of plateaus, with the Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas rimming the extensive Plateau of the Chotts before converging in Tunisia.

The Atlas Mts. are a climatic barrier between the Mediterranean basin and the Sahara Sahara [Arab.,=desert], world's largest desert, c.3,500,000 sq mi (9,065,000 sq km), N Africa; the western part of a great arid zone that continues into SW Asia. Extending more than 3,000 mi (4,830 km), from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, the Sahara is bounded on the N by ..... Click the link for more information. Desert. The slopes facing north are generally well watered and have important farmland and forests; on these slopes are the headwaters of many streams used for irrigation. The slopes facing south and the drier areas of the system are generally covered with shrub and grasses and have salt lakes and salt flats; sheep grazing is important there. The Atlas Mts. are rich in minerals, especially phosphates, coal, iron, and oil. Trekking in Morocco Mt Toubkal 4167m is calling you! We will offer all you need to spend a perfect and a lifetime experience that you have never imagined.

We are passionate about trekking in Morocco , and there is no better way to discover Atlas Mountains, its culture, and meet its people, than on foot! Whether you’re travelling in our small guided groups, alone or with friends, our hand picked programs ensure you’ll have an amazing trek! Come & Trekking in Morocco with us! One of the best trekking areas in Morocco is Toubkal region. As you know, Mt Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa and in Morocco. It is not that far away from Marrakech city. It takes around 1h30 drive to Imlil valley which is the closer starting point of trekking tours towards this highest peak in Morocco. You would need at least 2 days so as to climb up Mt Toubkal, but this is possible if you are fit enough; otherwise it would be better to opt for the 3 days trek which will give enough time to acclimitize and relax after the climb! In addition to trekking in toubkal, you can do other outdoor activities such as mountain biking which can be done from 1 day trip up to 6 days mountain biking around the high atlas mountains and berber villages & valleys.

Moreover, you can do ski touring in the high atlas mountains in winter time from end of December till March; we have off piste skiing tours from 2 days up to 6 days skiing in toubkal area. We have other outdoor activities such as horse riding & camel riding in high atlas mountains; we have days trips or long trips too! Another thing, Toubkal area is not the only region where we run our tours, but there are other nice places too such as Mt Mgoun, Mt Siroua, Mt Saghro, Sahara, and Imperial cities! HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS Morocco Trekking Trekking through Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The High Atlas is one of three components of the chain of the Moroccan's Atlas. This marks a massive climatic border between the lands of the ocean and those of Moroccan desert , because beyond the High Atlas, the arid expanses of the Sahara begins. Highlight and emblematic site in the region, Jebel Toubkal peaks at over 4000 meters altitude, a visible peak from Marrakech!

The High Atlas divides itself into various more or less ancient geological areas and landscapes of this region are as rich and varied between spectacular formation born of chaos reliefs to plateaus and valleys cultivated by the Berber population, who inhabited these places for thousands of years. The Moroccan Sahara is mainly made up of a big rocky plain, which runs from the feet of the Atlantis on the North/East almost to the Atlantic coast, south of Agadir. In Morocco, the desert moves smoothly, the Draa Valley or Wadi Ziz strung a string of villages and lush palm groves, before losing in the dunes of the erg (Chebbi or labidia), which lie at the foot highland last relief before Algeria.Even within the desert you can enjoy different landscapes: the dry, thorny plain where jackals and camels live, the Sahara desert: reign of scorpions and snakes or the northern oasis full of bustle and life. The choice is yours. Trekking in Morocco's sahara is a lifetime experience! A trip to the Sahara desert is definitely an experience everyone should do at least once in his life. The beauty of the desert, its contrasts, its colors, its silence, many memories you will never forget.

You walk on foot in the desert with camels carrying your luggage and supplies , and a professional guide as well as a cook who prepares delicious food for your everyday. It is a marvellous experience, just give it a try! come & join us in trekking in morocco's desert in winter time! Atlas Mountains | Article about Atlas Mountains by The Free Dictionary Atlas Mountains | Article about Atlas Mountains by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . Atlas Mountains, system of ranges and plateaus in NW Africa, extending c.1,500 mi (2,410 km) from SW Morocco, through N Algeria, to N Tunisia; Jebel Toubkal (13,671 ft/4,167 m), in SW Morocco, is the highest peak. The Atlas Mts., predominantly folded mountains of sedimentary rock, were uplifted during the late Jurassic period. Geologically related to the Alpine system of Europe, they are separated from the Sierra Nevada Sierra Nevada , chief mountain range of S Spain, in Granada prov., running from east to west for c.60 mi (100 km), parallel to the Mediterranean Sea.

The range's highest peak is Mulhacén (11,411 ft/3,478 m). ..... Click the link for more information. of Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar and from Sicily and the Apennines Apennines , Ital. Appennino, mountain system, running the entire length of the Italian peninsula. It extends south c.840 mi (1,350 km) from the Cadibona Pass in Liguria, NW Italy, where the Apennines join with the Ligurian Alps, to the Strait of Messina; the mountains of ..... Click the link for more information. of Italy by the Mediterranean Sea; the Canary Islands Canary Islands, Span. Islas Canarias, group of seven islands (1990 pop. 1,589,403), 2,808 sq mi (7,273 sq km), autonomous region of Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off Western Sahara. They constitute two provinces of Spain. Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1990 pop. ..... Click the link for more information. are a westward extension.

The Atlas system is most rugged in Morocco, where, from north to south, the Rif (or Rif Atlas), Middle Atlas, High or Grand Atlas (the highest part of the system), and Anti-Atlas are found; fertile lowlands separate the ranges. In Algeria the system becomes a series of plateaus, with the Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas rimming the extensive Plateau of the Chotts before converging in Tunisia. The Atlas Mts. are a climatic barrier between the Mediterranean basin and the Sahara Sahara [Arab.,=desert], world's largest desert, c.3,500,000 sq mi (9,065,000 sq km), N Africa; the western part of a great arid zone that continues into SW Asia. Extending more than 3,000 mi (4,830 km), from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, the Sahara is bounded on the N by ..... Click the link for more information. Desert. The slopes facing north are generally well watered and have important farmland and forests; on these slopes are the headwaters of many streams used for irrigation.

The slopes facing south and the drier areas of the system are generally covered with shrub and grasses and have salt lakes and salt flats; sheep grazing is important there. The Atlas Mts. are rich in minerals, especially phosphates, coal, iron, and oil. Toubkal, Mount Toubkal, Mount ▪ mountain , Morocco mountain peak that is the highest point (13,665 feet [4,165 metres]) in Morocco and in the Atlas Mountains . The peak is situated 40 miles (60 km) south of Marrakech in the High Atlas (Haut Atlas). Juniper forests covering the mountain's higher slopes are succeeded by alpine meadows, whereas the lower slopes have been extensively overgrazed. The peak is the central attraction of Toubkal National Park, an area noted for its winter skiing and summer hiking.

* * * Look at other dictionaries: Toubkal — Tizi n Toubkal from the summit ridge Elevation 4,167 m (13,671 ft) … Wikipedia Jbel Toubkal — Infobox Mountain Name = Jebel Toubkal Photo = Tizi n Toubkal.jpg| Caption = Tizi n Toubkal from the summit ridge Elevation = convert|4167|m|ft|0 Location = flag|Morocco Range = Atlas Mountains Prominence = convert|3755|m|ft|0 Listing = Ultra… … Wikipedia Atlas Mountains — a mountain range in NW Africa, extending through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Highest peak, Mt. Tizi, 14,764 ft. (4500 m). * * * Mountain system, northwestern Africa. It extends some 1,200 mi (2,000 km) from the Moroccan port of Agadir in the… … Universalium Morocco — Moroccan /meuh rok euhn/, adj., n. /meuh rok oh/, n. 1. French, Maroc. Spanish, Marruecos.

a kingdom in NW Africa: formed from a sultanate that was divided into two protectorates (French Morocco and Spanish Morocco) and an international zone.… … Universalium High Atlas — ▪ mountains, Morocco French Haut Atlas, or Great Atlas mountain range in central Morocco. It extends northeastward for 460 miles (740 km), from the Atlantic Coast to the Algerian border. Many peaks exceed an elevation of 12,000 feet (3,660… … Universalium Liste der Berge oder Erhebungen in Afrika — Dies ist eine Liste der höchsten Berge Afrikas über 4.000 Metern Höhe über dem Meeresspiegel (Je nach Quelle variieren die Höhenangaben teilweise). Name des Berges Höhe Gebirge Staat Anmerkungen Kibo 5895 m Kilimandscharo Tansania schlafender… … Deutsch Wikipedia Afrikanisch — Satellitenfoto Afrikas Der Kontinent Afrika hat eine Fläche von 30,3 Millionen km² (22 % der gesamten Landfläche der Erde) und wird von etwa 924 Mio.

Menschen (14 % der gegenwärtigen Weltbevölkerung, Stand Mitte 2006) bewohnt. In Afrika leben… … Deutsch Wikipedia Schwarzer Kontinent — Satellitenfoto Afrikas Der Kontinent Afrika hat eine Fläche von 30,3 Millionen km² (22 % der gesamten Landfläche der Erde) und wird von etwa 924 Mio. Menschen (14 % der gegenwärtigen Weltbevölkerung, Stand Mitte 2006) bewohnt. In Afrika leben… … Deutsch Wikipedia Tropisch-Afrika — Satellitenfoto Afrikas Der Kontinent Afrika hat eine Fläche von 30,3 Millionen km² (22 % der gesamten Landfläche der Erde) und wird von etwa 924 Mio. Menschen (14 % der gegenwärtigen Weltbevölkerung, Stand Mitte 2006) bewohnt. In Afrika leben… … Deutsch Wikipedia Atlas Mountains — For other uses, see Mount Atlas.

Atlas Mountains Range Toubkal Mountain in Toubkal National Park in the High Atlas … Wikipedia 16+

Question: Which mountain range extends through Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, with its highest peak at Mount Jebel Toubkal?
Answer: Atlas Mountains